Mr Burnham (pictured, inset) also hit out at Government claims the Mayor was not using his reserve funding, saying money was being used to lessen the burden on police services and the amount being kept (£13.2m) was within the recommended range.

He highlighted work being carried out in Platt Bridge and Scholes to solve problems at an early stage and prevent people becoming victims of crime or getting drawn into a life of offending.

Mayoral funding is also being used on a mental health triage programme to ensure vulnerable people do not end up in police cells and a unit to combat fraud.